Detachable sash balance



' May '14, 1957 G.. B. HAAs 2,791,796

DETACHABL SASH BALANCE Filed Sept. 29, 1954 3 Sheets-snee?I 1 May I14,1957 G. B. g-lAAs 2,791,796

DETACHABLE SASH BALANCE May 14, 1957 G. B. HAAs DETACHABLE SASH BALANCE3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed sept.- 29, 1954 IN VEN TGR.

United rates arent DETACHABLE SASH BALANCE Glenn B. Haas, Oak Harbor,Ohio, assigner to Formetal, Ine., (lak Harbor, Ghio, a corporation ofOhio Application September 29, 1954, Serial No. 459,107

Claims. (Cl. 16--202) This invention relates to builders hardware and,in particular, to window sash balances.

One object of this invention is to provide a detachable sash balance forremovable sash windows having the capability of temporarily detachingand anchoring the coupling hook of the sash balance cable to the sashguide while the sash is removed, and of reattaching this hook when thesash is reinstalled after cleaning, repairs or other work thereon.

Another object is to provide a detachable sash balance for removablesash windows of the foregoing character, wherein the sash balance cablehook is automatically held in its retracted position when it is pushedbackward to that position.

Another object is to provide a detachable sash balance for removablesash windows, of the foregoing character, wherein cam means is providedin connection with the window sash for automatically pushing the sashbalance cable hook holder into its retracted position when the sash israised after detachment of the cable hook, so that the hook and sash areprevented from interfering with one another during insertion or removal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings: wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a double-hung sliding sashinstallation equipped with removable sash windows and with a detachablesash balance, according to one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an edge View of the upper portion of a window sash with thedetachable sash balance cable hook secured to the keeper attached to thesash;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation, partly in section,of the sash balance cable hook immediately prior to its detachment fromthe keeper, with the cable hook holder projected into hook-interceptingposition;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the cable hook interceptedby the holder but not yet pushed out of the path of the keeper;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5, but showing the positionof the cable hook imediately after its detachment from the keeper andpushed partly out of the path of the sash by the keeper cam;

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figures 4, 5 and 6, but showing the cablehook pushed completely out of the path of the sash into its fullyretracted position;

Figure 8 is a right-hand side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure7;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken along the line 9--9 in Figure 8,showing the manner of securing the cable hook holder pivot pin to thehousing;

Figure l0 is a section taken along the line 10-10 in Figure 8, showingthe engagement of the cable hook with the cable hook holder;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the construction shown in Figure 9,with the housing removed; and

Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the cable hook.

The recent widespread and increasing use of removable double-hungsliding sash windows for ease of cleaning or other maintenance orrepairs has raised the problem of what to do with the spring sashbalance connected to such window sash when the sash is removed. Theseparate attachment and detachment of the spring sash balance cord,cable, chain or tape every time the sash 4is removed and itsreconnection when the sash is replaced in the window frame, is timeconsuming and annoying since it involves the coupling and uncoupling ofparts while the operator is in an inconvenient position and alsopresents a hazard to eyesight or other parts of the body if the cablehook slips out of the grasp and is jerked upward suddenly by its spring.

The present invention provides a sash balance for removable sash windowswhich has a holder for receiving the cable hook and holding ittemporarily with the cable in tension under the influence of itsbalancing spring while the sash is removed, cleaned and then replaced.The cable hook holder is so arranged as to be automatically retracted bya cam when the sash is pushed upward, and held in its retracted positionby a toggle action. holder, however, is quickly and easily swung backinto an intercepting path relatively to the keeper mounted on the sashwhen the sash is replaced in the window frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a double-hungremovable sliding window sash installation, generally designated 10,including upper and lower sliding sash 12 and 14 slidably and yieldablymounted between metallic sash guides 16 of ribbed channel-shapedcross-section and yielding metallic sash guides 18 also of ribbedchannel-shaped cross-section set into elongated vertical recesses 2t)and 22 respectively in the opposite side members 24 and 26 of a windowframe, generally designated 28. The window frame 28 has the usualsloping window sill 30 and top member or head 32 interconnected by theopposite side members 24 and 26, the construction being shown insimplified form for clearness of illustration.

The yielding sash guides 18, of which there are two located side by sideto receive the upper and lower sashes 12 and 14, are provided with ribs34 which engage the adjacent grooves 36 in the window sashes 12 and 14(Figure 2). The sash guides 18 are pushed into engagement with thegrooves 36 by coil springs 38 coiled around fasteners 40 inserted in thewindow frame wide members 26. Contact between the springs 38 and thesash guide 18 is made by hollow contact elements 42 of channel-shapedcross-section (Figure 2) entering and engaging the grooves within theribs 34.

The stationary sash guides 16 are of similar construction to the movablesash guide 18, being of channelshaped form with hollow guide ribs 44projecting inwardly therefrom into the grooves 46 on the opposite sidesof the window sash 12 or 14 from the grooves 36. The stationary sashguides 16 are secured in any suitable way, as by the fasteners 48 to thewindow frame side members 24, and contain sash balances, generallydesignated 49, For purposes of simplification, only the sash balance 49for the lower sash 14 is shown in the drawings, it bei ing understoodthat the upper sash 12 may be similarly provided if desired.

The stationary sash guide 16, being of approximately channel-shapedcross-section as above, serves as a housing for an elongated helicaltension spring or balancing spring 50, the lower end of which isanchored to the spring bracket 52 which in turn is secured as at 54 tothe interior of the lower end portion of the hollow guide rib A The 44.The upper end of the balancing spring 50 is connected to the inner end56 of a sash balance cable 58 which passes around a pulley 60 mountedupon an axle 62,. the opposite ends of which are supported in the. guiderib 44 and reinforced by platesr64.

Secured to the outer end 66 of thecable 58 is a cable hook, generallydesignated 68 (Figure 12), the said outer end 66 being in the form of anapproximately triangular loop, the sides of which engage notches 70 inthe bridge portion 72 of the cable hook 68, which has a forward hookportion 74 and a rearward reversely-bent portion 76 extending over theloop 66 and into close proximity to the hook portion 74. The loop 66 isheld in its closed position by a fastener 78 (Figure 8).

The hook portion 74 ofthe cable hook 68 normally is hooked into avertically-elongated aperture 80 and bencath a bridge portion 82 formedthereby in a cable hook keeper, generally designated 84 (Figures 3 and4). The cable hook keeper 84 at the lower end portion 86 is insubstantially the same plane as the upper portion 88, while between themlies a wedge-shaped hump 90 with opposite'ly-inclined rise and fallportions '92 and 94 respectivcly meeting one another in a peak 96. Thelower portion 86 of the keeper 84 is drilled as at 98 to receivefasteners 100 by which it is secured in a recess 102 formed in the uppercorner of the sash 14, with a counter-recess 104 extending below thelevel of the upper end of the recess 102 in order to accommodate thehook portion 74 ol' the cable hook 68 without interference. By reason ofthis construction, the upper portion 88 of the keeper 84 is spaced awayfrom the bottom of the counter-recess 104, whereas the lowerportion 86solidly abuts the bottom of the recess 102.

The cable hook 68 and cable 58 When not in use or while being withdrawnfrom engagement with the bridge portion 82 of the keeper 84, are held ina tensioned conditionby a swinging holder, generally designated 106(Figures 4 and 8 to ll inclusive), pivotally mounted in an elongatedopening 105 in the front wall 107 of the projecting rib portion 44 ofthe stationary sash guide and housing 16. The holder 106 consists of anelongated plate 108 of sheet metal (Figure 8) having an elongatedcentral aperture 110 and pivot elements or trunnions 112 extendinglaterally from slightly above the midpoltion thereof. Theslottedplate108 is divided into'upper and lower portions 114 and 116respectively tilted relatively to one another at an obtuse angle, Vtheapex of which is located substantially on thepivotzaxis 117 ofthe pivotelements. 112, the lower portion 116 being of slightly greaterlengththan the upper portion 114. The extreme lower end of the lowerportion 116 is provided with laterally/spaced t shaped lugs 118projecting toward one another from the opposite edges thereof (Figure 8)and having notches 120 facing one another for receiving the oppositeends of the loop 66, the. space 122 between the lugs 118 being less thanthe width of the cable hook 68 in `order to rmly hold the opposite endsof .the cable hook 68 while permitting the loop 66 andcable 58 to passbetween them (FigureV 8).

The pivot elements or trunnions 112 are seated in notches 124 (Figure 9)in the side walls of the rib portion 44, and held in position by a wirebridle, generally designated 126 (Figures 4, 9 and l1). The -wire bridle126 is of approximately U-shaped form with upper'jand lower courses 128and 130 respectively looped around the pivot elements 112 as at 132 andextending'behinda channel member 134, where they are secured to oneanotherby twisting as at 136 (Figures 9 and 11). The bottom 137 of thechannel member 134: has Yarcuatelybent upper and lowerend extensions1138' and. 140re spectively (Figure 4). The bottom 137: of the channel.member 134 is also drilled with vertically-spacedholes 142 and 144which receivethe upper orbase portion 146 ofa leaf spring 148 (Figures4^and 8). '.Thelupper Vend portionk 158 ofthe base portion 146 isbentatright angles l to the bottom 137 of the channel member 134 in order tosecure it in position, whereas the lower end portion 152 extendsarcuately outward through the slot 110 into engagement with the lowerportion 116 of the slotted plate 108 of the holder 106 so as to urge thelower portion 116 of the slotted plate 108 of the holder 106 so as tourge the lower portion 116 inwardly toward the bottom 137 of the channelmember 134. In order to prevent interference between the spring 50 andthe parts secured to the channel member 134, a sheet metalv guard 154 isdisposed from top to bottom of the channel member 134 with its upper andlower ends 156 and 158 bent around and hooked over the curved upper ends138 and 140 of the channel member bottom portion 137.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the upper andlower sashes 12 and 14 are in their closed positions (Figure 1) and thatthe cable hook 68 is connected to the keeper 84 with the cable 58 in astate of tension due to the stretching of the tension spring 50. Todetach the cable hook 68, and hold it in a retracted position in orderto remove and subsequently replace the lower sash 14, the operatorraises the lower sash 14 while he presses the upper portion 114 of theholder 106 inward around its pivot elements 112 so as to project thelugs 118 into the path of the cable hook 68. The

operator continues to raise the sash 14 whilev holding the lugs 118 intheir extended position (Figure 4) .until the connecting portion 72 ofthe cable hook 68 engages the lugs 118, with the loop 66 of the cable58-passing throughthe space 122 beneath the lugs 116 and entering thenotches 120 (Figure 8).

The operator continues to raise the sash 14 .from the position ofYFigure 4 to the position of Figure 5, causing the bridge portion 82 ofthe cable hook keeper 84 to detach itself from the hook portion '74 of.the cable-hook 68 while the latter is held by the lugs 118. With thecable hook 68 occupying the slot 80 in the upper portion 88 of thekeeper 84, the operator continues to raise the sash 14 from the positionof Figure 5 to that of Figure 6, causing the rise 92 of the cam portion90 to engage the cable hook portion 74 and push the latter backward,until the peak 96 pushes the cable hook portion 74 into the retractedposition of Figure 7. While this is occurring, the lower portion of thecable hook 68 passes rearwardly toward the pivot axis 117 of the pivotelements 112 (Figure 7), neutralizing the pull of the cable 58 upon thelower end or lugs 118 of the holder 106 by causing the line of action ofthe force exerted byv the cable 58 to pass substantially 'through orslightly behind .the pivot axis 117. The slot in the plate 108 enablesthe lower part of the cable 58 to assume this position of Figures 7 and8. The leaf spring portion 152 of the spring 148 is then enabled toexert an overbalancing force to hold the cable hook 68 and cable hookholder 106 in their'fully retracted positions of Figure 7, locatedcompletely within the interiorof the hollow rib 44. The operator thenlowers the sash 14, asin FigureV 7, whereupon he pushes it to the rightto compress the springs 38 (Figure 2) and at the same time withdraw thegroove 461mm engagement with the rib 44. The left-hand edge of the sash14 is then pulled forward to completely vwithdraw it from the windowopening, whereupon the sash 14 is then pulled outward obliquely to theleft to detach it from the rib 34 of the movable sash guide 18 andremove it completely from the window opening.

To replace the window sash 14 in the window opening and reattach it tothe cable hook 6,8 ofthe sash balance 49,V the operator reverses theabove-,describedprocedure, the. cable hook 68 and holder 106 being inthe retracted positions shown in Figure 7. The operator inserts the sash14 obliquely into the wind-ow opening with the groove 36 engaging theguide rib 34 ofthe movable sashguide 18 (Figure 2) pushing kinward tothe iight until the lefthand side of the sash 14 passes'the'guide rib 44in the.

stationary sash guide 16 and enters the guide groove'46.

The operator then releases the sash 14 which is pushed to the left bythe coil springs 38 to cause the groove 46 to seat itself around theguide rib 44 in a position below the cable hook holder 106.

The operator now raises the sash 1d from the position of Figure 7 untilthe opening 80 therein arrives opposite the cable hook 68, whereupon hepresses inward with his finger upon the upper portion 114 of the plate116 of the cable hook holder 166, interposing the hook portion 74 ot thecable hook 63 in the path of the bridge portion S2 of the keeper 84(Figure 5). As the cable S8 swings outward past the pivot axis 117 ofthe holder 11i-6 from the position of Figure 7 to that of Figure 5, thetension of the balancing spring 50 holds the cable hook 68 in itsprojected position (Figure 5), overpowering the leaf spring 148. Theoperator then lowers the sash 14 and keeper S4 until the hook portion 74of the cable hook 68 engages and hooks around the bridge portion 82thereof (Figure 4), whereupon the operator continues to lower the sash14, carrying downward with it the cable hook 68, detaching the cablehook 68 from engagement with the lugs 113 of the holder 106. The forceof the leaf spring 14S then snaps the holder 166 backward into itsretracted position (Figure l) and the parts occupy their startingpositions shown in Figure 1.

What I claim is:

l. A detachable sash -baiance construction for a sliding sash windowremovably mounted in a window frame and sash guide structure, saidconstruction comprising a cable hook keeper adapted to Ibe attached tothe sash, a cable hook detachably engageable with said keeper, allexible cable secured to said cable hook, a sash-balancingforce-applying element mounted in said structure 'and connected to saidcable, a cable hook holder pivotally mounted on said `structure forswinging motion into and out of intercepting relationship with saidcable hook, `said cable hook holder including an elongated leverdisposed in a generally up-and-down direction with its pivotal mountingdisposed intermediate its ends, and means for normally resilientlyurging said lever out of intercepting relationship with said hook.

2. A detachable sash balance construction for a sliding sash windowremovably mounted in a window frame and sash guide structure, saidconstruction comprising a cable hook keeper adapted to be attached tothe sash, a cable hook detachably engageable with said keeper, aflexible cable secured to said cable hook, a sash-balancingforceapplying element mounted in said structure and connected to saidca'ble, and la cable hook holder pivotally mounted on said structure forswinging motion into and out of intercepting relationship with saidcable hook, said cable hook holder including an elongated lever disposedin a generally up-and-down direction with its pivotal mounting disposedintermediate its ends, said lever having an elongated opening thereinadjacent and extending longitudinally in opposite directions from saidpivot and providing clearance for said cable during swinging of saidlever to and fro.

3. A detachable sash balance construction for a sliding sash Windowremovably mounted in a window frame and sash guide structure, saidconstruction comprising a cable hook keeper adapted lto be attached tothe sash, a cable hook detachably engageable with said keeper, ailexible cable secured to said cable hook, ya sash-balancingforce-applying element mounted in said structure and connected to saidcable, a cable hook holder pivotally mounted on said structure for`swinging motion into `and out of intercepting relationship with saidcable hook, said cable hook holder including an elongated lever disposedin a generally up-and-down direction with its pivotal mounting disposedintermediate its ends, said lever having an elongated opening thereinextending past said pivot and adapted to receive said cable, and meansfor normally resiliently urging said lever out of interceptingrelationship with said hook.

4. A detachable sash balance construction for a sliding sash windowremovably mounted in a window frame and sash guide structure, saidconstruction comprising a cable hook keeper adapted to be attached tothe sash, a cable hook detachably engageable with said keeper, ailexi'ble cable secured to said cable h-ook, a sash-balancingforceapplying element mounted in said structure and connected to saidcable, and a cable hook holder movably mounted on said structure fortravel into and out of intercepting relationship with said cable hook,said keeper having a cam portion thereon engageable with said hook andresponsive to the sliding of the sash `in the sash guide structure forurging said hook from a keeper-engaging position into a keeper-avoidingposition.

5. A detachable sash balance construction for a sliding sash windowremovably mounted in -a window frame and sash guide structure, saidconstruction comprising a cable hook keeper adapted to be attached `tothe sash, a cable lhook detachably engageable with said keeper, aflexible cable secured to said cable hook, a sash-balancingforce-applying element mounted in said structure and connected to saidcable, and a cable hook holder pivotally mounted on said structure forswinging motion into and out of intercepting relationship with saidcable hook, said cable hook holder including an elongated lever disposedin an approximately vertical position with its pivotal mounting disposedintermediate itsends, said keeper having a cam portion thereonengageable with said hook and responsive to the sliding of the sash inthe sash guide structure for urging said hook from a keeper-engagingposition into a keeper-avoiding position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 581,633Van Gaasbeek Apr. 27, 1897 656,320 Fisher Aug. 2l, 1900 919,831Degiorgis Apr. 27, 1909

